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14436RSS feed from the UK & Ireland's most popular megalithic community websiteSat, 08 Dec 2018 18:25:29 +0000Foel Frech (Fieldnotes by GLADMAN)Sat, 08 Dec 2018 18:25:29 +0000http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/161782/foel_frech.htmlhttp://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/161782/foel_frech.html
So, there's serious history in them thar hills. However as momentous as such events may be I'm today mostly wearing my 'prehistoric hat'; and boy, does it need a wash. Speaking of which.... be careful what you wish for, my friends. Anyway, in due course a single track road at Nant-y-crytiau ventures northward across Cadair Benllyn, subsequently veering westward upon encountering a multi-gated cross roads beside an old chapel, to eventually terminate at the isolated farm of Blaen-y-cwm. As I negotiate the final livestock barrier I have the pleasure of making the acquaintance of, by all accounts, the smallholder, his initial countenance one of bemused bafflement at my very presence. He rather brusquely enquires whether I speak Welsh, presumably since (clearly) no tourist would venture here in a million years? Or thereabouts. As it happens I do not. Although in mitigation of such a heinous crime most Welsh people I know do not speak Welsh either. Including members of my own family. Nevertheless my explanation, to the effect of planning to go for a walk in the teeming rain to find an ancient burial cairn, strikes him as perfectly rational behaviour for an English gentleman. As long as I fasten the gate behind me, mind. Well, after all, one doesn't get much opportunity to venture forth in the midday sun. In North Wales.

Read More]]>FieldnotesBryn Cau (Miscellaneous by GLADMAN)Fri, 07 Dec 2018 20:32:06 +0000http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/161781/bryn_cau.htmlhttp://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/161781/bryn_cau.html
"Remains of a small cairn situated on a saddle between two local promontories on a NW-SE aligned ridge. The cairn is circular in shape and measures c. 4.2m in diameter. It is shallow in profile and measures c. 0.65m tall". (F.Foster/RCAHMW 02.10.2006)

Read More]]>MiscellaneousFoel Ystrodur Fawr (Fieldnotes by GLADMAN)Sun, 02 Dec 2018 18:36:32 +0000http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/161761/foel_ystrodur_fawr.htmlhttp://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/161761/foel_ystrodur_fawr.html
Having said that, the start is not overly auspicious: the mock ski-chalet complex of Rhiw Goch suggestive of muppets in shiny new 4x4s enduring 'outdoor experiences' (the former ski centre having apparently now closed down). However all is forgiven when noting this is actually a recycled army training camp. Furthermore the nearby, excellent monolith of Llech Idris (him again) and Sarn Helen/Tomen y Mur stand (if a track can be said to 'stand', that is) mute testimony to the fact that folk have been passing this-a-way for millennia. Anyway... beyond the wooden cabins the minor road follows the course of the Afon Gain to a rather fine little stone bridge before climbing to the summit of Pen y Feidiog, subsequently descending to cross the fledgling Afon Lliw at the farming hamlet of Blaen Lliw.

Read More]]>FieldnotesCapel Garmon (Image by GLADMAN)Sat, 24 Nov 2018 18:31:49 +0000http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/161714/capel_garmon.htmlhttp://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/161714/capel_garmon.html<a href="http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/161714"><img src="http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/img_small/161714.jpg" width="0" height="0" /></a><br />Image by GLADMANImagesCarnedd Moel Siabod (Image by GLADMAN)Sat, 24 Nov 2018 18:24:24 +0000http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/161713/carnedd_moel_siabod.htmlhttp://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/161713/carnedd_moel_siabod.html<a href="http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/161713"><img src="http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/img_small/161713.jpg" width="0" height="0" /></a><br />Image by GLADMANImagesGelli Ffrydiau (Fieldnotes by GLADMAN)Sat, 24 Nov 2018 16:31:50 +0000http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/161712/gelli_ffrydiau.htmlhttp://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/161712/gelli_ffrydiau.html
The all important water feature, arguably a prerequisite in any classic landscape, is to be found in the Llyn Nantlle Uchaf to approx south-west, the lake perhaps best eulogised - in paint at least - by Richard Wilson in 1765, his focus naturally being upon the grandeur of Snowdon and her cohorts framed by, and rising beyond, the jaws of 'Drws-y-Coed' to the east. One can almost hear the faint reverberations of a mighty 'I don't believe it!' still echoing down across the centuries. Likewise Mr Turner also came here to have a gander. Well, the brusque gentleman did get around a bit, to be fair. And it would've been rude not to pay a visit to such an iconic location in passing.

Read More]]>MiscellaneousCraig ty-glas (Miscellaneous by GLADMAN)Tue, 13 Nov 2018 21:10:26 +0000http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/161642/craig_tyglas.htmlhttp://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/161642/craig_tyglas.html
So... upon traversing the wild heather moor from Y Bala, the B4391 descends, in an appropriately dramatic fashion, to the village of Llangynog. Crossing the Afon Eirth a right turn accesses a dead-end minor road heading toward Cwm Rhiweirth. Easy parking is to be had just before the house at Glan-yr-Afon whereupon a short walk northward brings the traveller to the Nant Buarth Glas, a field gate on the left between houses accessing a public footpath (the gate secured with string in such a farcical manner as to require me to climb the thing). It is then a case of utilising said path, following the arrows, so to speak, to the point where it meets the main bridleway heading south. Now since the somewhat overbearing crags of Craig Ty-glas are those towering above to the west, it is necessary to ignore the bridleway and look for a copse of (larch?) trees, within which you'll locate a track - well, sort of - heading steeply uphill to the left of the tumbling stream.